The Last Week

What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus's Final Days in Jerusalem

By: Marcus J. Borg, John Dominic Crossan

Narrated by: John Pruden

Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's Summary

Top Jesus scholars Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan join together to reveal a radical and little-known Jesus. As both authors reacted to and responded to questions about Mel Gibson's blockbuster The Passion of the Christ, they discovered that many Christians are unclear on the details of events during the week leading up to Jesus's crucifixion.

Using the gospel of Mark as their guide, Borg and Crossan present a day-by-day account of Jesus's final week of life. They begin their story on Palm Sunday with two triumphal entries into Jerusalem. The first entry, that of Roman governor Pontius Pilate leading Roman soldiers into the city, symbolized military strength. The second heralded a new kind of moral hero who was praised by the people as he rode in on a humble donkey. The Jesus introduced by Borg and Crossan is this new moral hero, a more dangerous Jesus than the one enshrined in the church's traditional teachings.

The Last Week depicts Jesus giving up his life to protest power without justice and to condemn the rich who lack concern for the poor. In this vein, at the end of the week Jesus marches up Calvary, offering himself as a model for others to do the same when they are confronted by similar issues. Informed, challenged, and inspired, we not only meet the historical Jesus, but meet a new Jesus who engages us and invites us to follow him.

©2006 Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan (P)2011 HarperCollins Publishers

Fantastic review

Where does The Last Week rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the middle. I liked being able to knit on my prayer shawl while listening, but I wished I could highlight and underline. A little too scholarly for a casual listening.

Would you be willing to try another book from Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan ? Why or why not?

I would definitely read other books from Borg and Crossan. Very thorough. Borg & Crossan's review of Jesus's Final Days in Jerusalem is thoroughly scholarly and inspirational. I especially appreciate the fact that they acknowledge the traditional interpretations while offering new perspectives.

Any additional comments?

I love audible books, but I would buy this one for my Kindle next time!

Well Worth the Listening

Any additional comments?

I took a small risk purchasing The Last Week, as I knew nothing of the authors and am not a deeply religious person.
This audiobook is a reflection on the Gospel of Mark, the oldest of the canonical gospels and the one possibly least laden with theology.
The authors offered well-considered insights into Mark that I found at once fascinating and useful. (No spoilers here, though!)
In the end, I was very happy to have purchased this book and invested the time listening to it. Although I didn't agree with all that was said, Borg and Crossan helped me to interesting and important insights regarding the Gospel.

MARVELLOUS

I first read this book at the recommendation of a former pastor during the spring of 2010. I had just retired and was caring for my wife during her last days. The word 'blessing' is used to often these days, but this book was truly a blessing during a very difficult time. Now listening to the audio version gave me great comfort and additional insight to the past few years. This may become an annual lead in to Lent for me.

very eye opening

this book was part of a bible study leading up to Easter! i learned a lot.

Wonderful

I listen to the last on week to Easter. It was wonderful.
I could not stop listening. It was great

A Great & Startling View of the Last Week of Jesus

Crossan and Borg outdo themselves with this book. A great "read" that gives significant insight into the historical Jesus and the vision which inspired him. A must for anyone serious about embracing the deep tradition that extends back beyond the medieval traditions that still dominate most of Christianity (both protestant and catholic). Pruden does a more than adequate job, although his lack of knowledge in the vocabulary of biblical exegesis shows at times.

Incredible

This was an absolutely amazing book that really makes one think and substantially ponder Jesus, the gospels and their various understandings. Things I’ve certainly never thought of or considered before. Though I’m not sure I absolutely 100% agree with everything the authors had to say this was absolutely worth the time and much spiritual food for consideration! So glad I took the time to read and thoroughly enjoy this book while in the journey of the last week following in real time. Yes, I definitely would recommend this book!

A must read for all who wish to understand

The careful textural citations and explications lead the individual reader to a deeper and more insightful understanding of Christ's mission both for this world and for the next. By using the last week's chronology, according to Mark, the authors compare the other 3 Gospels accounts and reveal how each sought to expand upon Mark's account of Christ's mission. Reading this book will help you understand far more about the life and events of Jesus than you might get through any other source.

The Last Week

They do an outstanding job walking through Jesus’s last week and connecting the political and personal of the last week!

The last week

This book was an eye-opening experience. Scholarship is outstanding and their conclusions are hard to argue with. I will recommend this to those who are exploring their faith.

Excellent Narration, but flawed

I enjoyed this audiobook mainly because of the subject matter and the superb narration by John Pruden. However, I don't think that this highly detailed exposition really works in the audible format, due to the large number of references and side by side comparisons, for which a printed text is needed.

Excellent interpretation of the meaning of Jesus.

I recommend listening to this audiobook again and again until the excellent discourse on Holy Week has been comprehended. It’s exposition of the political as well as the personal Jesus in his last week is very intriguing and makes one think of how the social justice aspect is sadly missing from mainstream Christianity, the church being pretty much aligned with the powerful establishment.

Great book, very detailed and insightful

Great final chapter - wonderfully detailed. Would be great for someone who wants to have a deep understanding of the scriptures and how they are interlinked

Interesting book but monotonous narrator

I like the break down of the book and it provides interesting discussion but the narrator's voice was too monotonous to really be engaging

Powerful and refreshing.

This is great and challenging book un-picking the last week of Jesus's life. some really good insight by two great authors.

not easy to listen too

usually love anything like this, but the voice or something not holding my attention, sounds like he is reading a boring book